For many female veterans, leaving the Australian Defence Force (ADF) doesn’t mean leaving pain behind. After years of training, deployments, and service demands, chronic pain often lingers, and accessing healthcare that truly understands their needs can be just as challenging.

“I just had to push through,” one veteran recalled during a recent study. “Even when I left the service, the pain didn’t leave me, and the support I needed wasn’t there.”

This pioneering research from Gallipoli Medical Research (GMR), supported by the Queensland Government Veterans’ Health and Wellbeing Research Grants Program, brings these experiences into focus. The study explored how chronic pain affects female veterans and how healthcare systems currently address their needs.

Voices from the study

The study spoke with female ex-serving members across Army, Navy, and Air Force. Key themes emerged:
• Military training, deployment, and service demands contribute to the onset and persistence of chronic pain.
• Female veterans face systemic, financial, and personal barriers when seeking effective healthcare.
• There is an urgent need for gender and veteran-informed approaches to improve outcomes for female veterans.

“These women are managing lifelong conditions while navigating a system that isn’t always designed for them,” said Miriam Kent. “The study highlights an urgent need for gender and veteran-informed approaches in healthcare.”

Why it matters

Miriam Kent said: “Queensland is home to 28% of Australia’s veterans, 60% of whom live with long-term health conditions. Female veterans, who make up 13% of the veteran community, deserve care that truly understands their experiences and challenges.”

Next steps: turning insights into action

Building on these findings, Gallipoli Medical Research is developing:
– Educational resources for healthcare professionals, informed by veterans’ lived experiences.
– Data-driven insights into chronic conditions, comorbidities, and healthcare access to guide practical, gender-sensitive solutions.

“This research gives us a roadmap to support female veterans in a way that’s meaningful, evidence-based, and respectful of their service,” said Kent.

The study is now published in Journal of Veterans Studies.

This research study was proudly supported by:

For media inquiries, interviews, or more information, please contact:
Hannah Cook, Communications Manager,
Gallipoli Medical Research
07 3394 7284
CookHannah@GallipoliResearch.org.au